Introducing Game and Gab for Good

Posted on November 24, 2014

**ATTENTION!! – The event has been moved to December 9th, 2014 at 5:30pm.**

Quite some time ago, while in-line at EB Games waiting to pick up Rick’s copy of AAA Blockbuster III: The Sequel, I started thinking about the problem of representation in mainstream video games. We all know about the problems a lack of diverse representation in media can cause (hell, I’ve since spoken on a panel tackling exactly this issue). And beyond that is the issue of what games are marketed to who, as my eyes wandered to the shelves of pink DS games about makeovers and farm romance. And then I started thinking about the effects of sexism around the world and wondered if there was a way I could address issues of sexism in video games here, while also helping the often neglected victims of sexism in less developed parts of the world.

And then I forgot about it.

Flash forward to a month ago, when I managed to reconnect with Dames Who Make Games interviewee Esther H. It turned out that Esther had just started working a with a new company called Game N Give. Game N Give hosts a platform for anyone to run video game charity events. Any game. Any charity. They’ll even help you set up the event.

It also so happened that Esther had also been thinking of how she could use the platform to run events that tackled progressive issues in video games, while putting the money where her proverbial mouth was. And we knew then and there that we were kindered spirits.

Our first event is set for December 9, 2014. Esther, Me and Sam Abbot from Compulsion Games, plus others, will be getting together to play Contrast and talk about women in games. How women are represented in games, whether games starring women are harder to market, the challenges of designing and writing female game characters, etc. The whole thing will be streamed live on Twitch from the event page and everyone watching the stream is invited to join in the discussion online. The goal of the event is to raise funds for Love 146, an organization dedicated to eliminating child trafficking and exploitation.

The concept behind Game and Gab for Good is basically to mash up a live stream and a panel discussion to use games as a vehicle for change. As well, since Game N Give is launching their service, all donors and participants will be entered into a raffle for awesome prizes like $100 in Steam credits or even an Xbox One.

That would be amazing. Contrast is a puzzle/adventure style game where you play as a young girl and her imaginary friend who can move of shadows. It was made by a local studio here in Montreal and was an early indie game on the PS4.

Hi, I’m Mariko!

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